Vista Media Center users to get Netflix streaming content

Microsoft has announced today that it will be bringing all 12,000 Netflix "Watch Instantly" streaming content videos to Windows Media Player in Vista.

Unfortunately for XP users, the on-demand service will not work with XP Media Center.

To use the content, you must be running Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate and be a monthly subscriber to Netflix. The videos are available through the Netflix app in Windows Media Player, under the "TV + Movies" category.

First time users will be asked to log in using their Netflix username and password and from there you can arrange your queue as well as search the vast library. You will also need Microsoft's Silverlight video/animation plug-in to run the app if you do not already have it installed.

Adds Ben Reed, senior product marketing manager for Windows Media Center:
"The [lack of] of familiar controls, of pause, fast forward, rewind, that's one of the pain points we hear from consumers about the myriad ways you can consume TV shows and movies online. Each one has a different search and discovery experience; each one has a different player; some work great full screen, some don't."

Originally posted by SSSJDanny: If you use Vista Media Center on your pc why Cant you just watch it on a Web Browser...

If you have two screens, the browser will not stay maximised on the second screen when playing games on the first screen. Plus, vista media center may be more graphicaly appealing to certain users, especialy those with true HTPCs connected to HDTVs.

It is also nice to be able to keep all your media in one media center application. Windows 7 media center gets very close to doing this, and the addition of NetFlix gets it that much closer.

Originally posted by Moomoo2: Why is it news that Netflix content streams to xbox 360..? I thought this had been available for a while now

Netflix streams to the 360 as long as you have a Gold membership which you have to pay for. You can stream from a media center without having to have the Gold subscription, thus giving those who have the Silver (free) version the ability to watch Netflix on their Xbox as well.

On a side note, I wonder if this will be possible for the PS3 as well, seeing as you can use media centers to stream video. It could be a free alternative for those who don't want to pay the $40 for PlayOn.

I built a Windows Media Center HTPC using Vista for this reason alone now if Hulu can get onboard things will be just peachy. For those who don't know Media Center uses a large GUI you can view from the couch or armchair and with a wireless keyboard mouse or media center remote control you can reach the various options and watch online content, play a DVD/BluRay etc. The PC replaces all your devices and can be connected to your Home Theater Audio System to obtain AC3Dolby Digital Sound when playing various sources. We love our and this will be a Value Added function to our htpc & Netflix subscription. Now when is it gonna be released.

Question- Does the Roku or other streaming box have different content from what's viewable in you XP or Vista browser? Ver*zon jerked a lot of us around with pricing and speed options. Fastest speed I'm getting for 23USD a month is 768k, There's others getting 1M at a cheaper price. The Roku box is not usable at 768.